Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-13
A GOSSIP'S DEED.

| sence, curing which the young girl had
turned her face away.
Miss Perkins was one of the born az.
gravators of humanity in general and In
particular. Minerva Woodford felt hor-
ribly tempted 10 tell her so. But Minerva
had wonderful self-control for such smil-
ing, azure eyes and thick massed, ungov-
ernable auburn hair. 1t was no light i'm
position, this that she had borne through
out that glorious midsummer afternoon;
the company Of Miss Perkins ito tea,'
the threads Of gossip Miss Perkins I'M
raveled inch for inch with the yarn of the
great gray balls from which she was al
i ways knitting ugly stockings for heaven
knew whom and knit up slowly with her
own peculiar skill of narration into a SUBJ
stance quite rs ugly and durable as the
product Of her hands.
1t was one of Miss Perkins self enioined
duties to communicate disagreeable It'd
1ngs. She felt q delightful sense of peace
and conteEtnent now that she had con-
cluded her task of enlightening her young
and motherless hostess. "'Nervie was O
good girl and hadn't ought to be deceived
leastest," she said to herself, s'more
specially by such worthless critter as
that Jason Hawkes."
81 didn't s'pose you'd care so much"
she repeated, with an air Of sympathy.
Minerva was reaching through the win
dow to break of some of the pink roses
that hung there red-ripe and luscious.
She did not obey her impulse to turn and
speak sharply. She did not say out her
thought. Z" 'Nervien' How she hated to
be called "'Nerviep' No one with anv
sense called her anything but Minnie. No
one but Miss Elvira Perkins. She wished
1 ~
| her.
She thought all this, but what she said
was milder, as she faced about carelessly
and stood arranging the roses.
| 81 am sure I hardly understand you,
Miss Perkins. Why should you suppose
I cared what was said about Jason
Hawkes.? Surely he has q right to marry
whom he pleases."
She might have been little paler than
usual, but her voice was quite steady.
Miss Perkins smled disoreetly.
"There amt much chance for the young
| girls" she observed, "when there's de-
| signin' widow come to town. Mis- Oar
rell's just got Jason Hawkes. wound COM
pletely round her finger. 'Tisn't that he's
so much account, though if he'd married
You, you could've had a good influence.
He's altogether too fond o race horses
and such like evil doings. But for her to
come and set herself up SO mightly-why,
she amt once returned your call now, I'll
be bound.n
Minerals lovely face flushed painfully
at the reminder. She stepped from sitting
room to kitchen and put some water In a
vase for the roses. Her heart throbbed
with great ache, but never should her
caller know it.
'Tt's almost time for father to come"
she said, quietly. ''I'm going to set the
table now, Miss Perkins. Will you sit by
the door? I'll bring your chair
sob, law! l can manage for myself"
said the elderly maiden, rising in some
haste to push the wooden rocker before
her over the sill and down the length Of |
the shining kitchen. 1t was wing of the
house facing the road and the door was
open.
A sudden hoof beat and rumble of |
wheels on the soft and yellow dusty road. |
A carriage spun by after a certain well |
known pair of jet black horses.
Miss Perkins sent up q shrill little cry |
of triumph.
Il never! There they go; he's driving |
her out to the fair grounds. What do |
you think of that, 'NervieT'
But Minerva made no reply.
Miss Perkins turned only TO see the girl |
slip quietly from the room.
Miss Perkins sat there alone for con- |
siderable space. The teakettle had begun |
to sing cheerily. The snowy table cloth |
and the shining glassware had an inviting |
aspect. There was plenty Of Miss Per- |
kins' favorite sauce and sweet pickle;
there was just the kind OF tea biscuit and
cocoanut cake that she dotted on. She
closed her eyes and clasped her hands with
o sigh of thankfulness for duty performed
and blessings about to be enjoyed.
Then Minerva's father arrived.
'How-dy, Miss Perkins, he said.
"Where's Ninnie?'
Minerva reappeared, just 4 little pale
and shadoWy around the eyes.
Hero I am, father" she said, gently;
''tea is ready. I had something to do I'd
most forgotten
Miss Perkins went away just after tea.
She did not stop to ''help 'Nervie do the
Dishes" as usual It was getting dark
and she had q long walk she suddenly re-
membered.
Minerva went about her work quite I'M
assisted Her father was due at some
village meeting, and SO presently she was
left alone in the Mouse
\ terrible sense of depression fell upon
her. She wondered if Jason Hawkes.
were coming. She was quite prepared.
She had everything ready To return to
him-his letters and the little pearl ring
he had given her. Everything was
wrapped securely; the package was too
heavy for her pockets-quite too heavy
She wondered if he would come. And
how should she feel when she had given
all back to him and said to him that they
had better part: She hardly'k knew. oh,
life was hard and bitter! Jason had loved
her-she knew he had loved her-untn
designing widow" as Miss Perkins had
said. Perhaps Miss Perkins was right.
Minerva finished her work and went 10
sit on the porch. The air was heavy with ,
the scent of rose and honeysuckle. And
she felt her heart within her IS cold as o
stone.
She had sat there less than half an hour
when the gate opened and form familiar
came swiftly up the walk. Her cold |
heart seemed for moment to stand still
Then it throbbed painfully. &
Good evening"" she answered very
quietly to his good evening" But she {
didn't give him her hand. {
The rest all came about very swiftly. /
. pride, for thy stern sake how many {
hearts are wrunS! G
He should never know that she had
learned his treachery. He should simply :
believe she did not care for him. "Here :
are your letters and the ring she s1id !
swiftly, glad that the darkness yelled her :
pallor
" 1